Chrenkoff

"Chrenkin' off" on the Right side of life since 1972 - - -
The news and views from Down Under on politics, international affairs and culture

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

New poll from Iraq

Our correspondent Haider Ajina translates some of the results of the latest poll conducted in Baghdad by "Al Sabah":

"Do you believe that democracy will help solve Iraqs Political, Security and Financial problems?

Yes - 82.1%No - 15.3%Dont know - 2.6%

"Would you consent to a Kurdish President?

Yes - 69.8%No - 27.3%Dont know - 2.9%

"Do you believe that the Kurds will secede from Iraq over the next 10 years?

Yes - 35.4%No - 53.9%Maybe 9.1%Dont know - 1.6%"

Speaking of Iraq, two good opinion pieces by two good commentators. Amir Taheri:

"The supposed total exclusion of the Arab Sunnis from the National Assembly did not happen, either. Arab Sunnis account for some 15 per cent of the Iraqi population and are a majority in four out of 18 provinces. In three of those provinces the voter turnout was below 30 per cent, and in one, Anbar, dropped to 2 per cent. But only half of the Arab Sunnis live in those provinces. The other half, in Baghdad and other major cities, voted in larger numbers.

"Based on their demographic strength, the Arab Sunnis should have 42 seats in the 275-seat transitional National Assembly. The final results show that the new assembly will have 49 Arab Sunnis sitting in it. Of these 40 were elected on the Shia-led and the Kurdish lists, plus the list headed by Iyad Allawi, the interim Prime Minister. Five were elected on a list led by Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawer, the Arab Sunni interim President, while four more won within smaller alliances. If we add the Kurds, who are also Sunni Muslims, at least 110 members of the assembly are Sunnis."